Geranium flowers are among the best plants for hanging baskets. They are popular among gardeners for their showy flowers.
These flowers come in different color shades. But the problem is that they are among the most difficult to grow. They are among the category of flowers that require a lot of care.
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Popular Types of Geraniums
It is good first to identify the popular types to understand how to grow Geraniums.
- Zonal Geraniums
Zonal geraniums are among the category of flowers that are popular with gardeners. These flowers have darker colors on the leaf.
They also have succulent stems. The zonal geraniums also have a pungent smell. These flowers bloom when under shade. They grow up to 24 inches tall.
- Ivy Geraniums
The second category of geraniums is the Ivy geraniums. This flower type has lobed and pointed leaves. The leaves can grow up to 3 inches long.
Plants are good spreaders when they mature. The flowers come in shades of purple, pink, red, and white.
- Interspecific Geraniums
The interspecific geraniums are a category of flowers that have very large flowers. They have some traits of the ivy geraniums.
They are known for their high level of heat intolerance. They are also good at blooming and have beautiful and colorful flowers.
- Regal Geraniums
Regal geraniums also fall in the category of popular geranium plants. They are significant for their showy flowers. These flowers come in shades of orange, red, purple, and pink. The plant has rounded leaves with eye-catching patterns.
- Scented-Leaf Geraniums
Scented-leaf geraniums are known for their strong scent. The plants release a different variety of scents when brushed. The plants have clustered flowers that bloom heavily. The flowers have different shades of pink, white, mauve, and purple.
Steps to growing Geraniums flower
Step 1: Pick the right spot
The first step to growing the geranium flower is picking the right spot. This is a task that every gardener should be familiar with. The spot has to be right to support flower blooming.
It is recommended to pick a spot where these flowers can access enough sunlight. However, it is also good to check the availability of shade in the afternoon when the sun is scorching hot.
Five hours of sunlight would be ideal for the geranium plants to bloom. Remember that the geranium flowers will flourish when the right spot is picked.
Step 2: Get the right pot
Pot selection is very important for gardeners preferred to use pots. The pot should be well drained. This is because geranium flowers do not like soggy soils. The selected pot should be large enough to hold the size of the flower.
Step 3: Pick the right time
It is also good to make the right decision as to when to grow the geranium flowers. This calls for having a well prepared planting calendar. The spring is the most recommended period for planting the geranium.
This is because the plant loves enough amount of sunlight. It also prevents rotting of the flowers.
Step 4: Prepare the garden bed
The gardener is among the most popular spots for planting the geranium. It is important to understand how best to prepare a garden bed.
Searching for information or seeking professional advice during the preparation is good. This is because the preparation has to consider many issues, including soil drainage.
Step 5: Dig holes
After preparing the garden, the next step is to dig the holes for planting the geranium. The size of the hole and the depth are very critical. It is important to double-check the size of the geranium flowers before deciding on the size of the hole.
Step 6: Planting
The final step of growing the geranium is to plant the flower. A few issues should be considered when making decisions on planting. It is important to handle the transplant with care.
This helps to avoid damaging the roots. It is also important to water the plant adequately after planting. The entire process should ensure the successful growth and maturity of the flower.
How to take care of Geraniums
Geraniums are among the plants that require a lot of care. There are a few recommendations that can help you understand how to provide care for the geranium plant.
- Maintaining moisture
One way to care is to use mulch when planting the geranium on the garden bed. This works best in retaining moisture for the flowers.
It is, however, important to avoid overwatering the flower. This is because the geranium flower does not do well in soggy soils.
- Deadheading
Deadheading is among the many ways of caring for Geraniums. This is recommended to promote blooming. The deadheading should be done during the summer season. This is because the geranium blooms well with enough sunlight.
- Adding nutrients
The other good way of improving the growth of the geranium is to add enough nutrients. It is recommended to find the right fertilizer for this plant.
Adding fertilizer regularly is recommended. The water-soluble fertilizer is identified as the best for the geranium plant. It is recommended to avoid fertilizing during winter.
- Refreshing the plant
There are times when the geranium plant may need to be refreshed. This is especially if you notice that the plant is stagnating in growth. Repotting the geranium is recommended in such a case.
This is identified as appropriate during the summer season. It is, however, critical to ensure that the plants are not damaged in the process.
Is it better to grow geraniums indoors vs. outdoors
There is one of the main dilemmas among gardeners. Whether growing the geranium is better outdoors or indoors.
You must know that the plant can do well in any of these spaces. The main requirement is the provision of adequate care for the plant.
Growing the geranium outdoors is good because you only need to provide minimal care. The main concern should be the drainage of the soil. Identifying how to remove excess water that may cause sogginess is important.
Growing the geranium indoors is also easy because it uses pots. The main requirement is ensuring you have the right pot for your plant. The geranium can easily thrive indoors, but there is also a need to provide access to sunlight.
The general overview is that growing geranium indoors is easier than the outdoor spaces. That is why they are categorized under popular houseplants.
The plant does well in cool temperatures that are well provided indoors. Indoor planting also means it is easy to manage conditions that can affect plant growth.
Are geraniums flowers annuals or perennials?
Garden geraniums can thrive only in one season during the year. This is because they complete their life cycle within one growing season. That is why they are categorized under annuals or plants that survive for a season.
However, geraniums can also be perennials in some regions. They only require a gardener to provide the needed care. The only challenge is the cold areas.
The geraniums may not survive well during the winter. That is why it is recommended to plant the geraniums indoors.
Making them survive for seasons may require repotting them. This is to refresh the plant. It is also good for providing the required nutrients for better growth.
Is it possible to grow Geranium flowers from seed?
There is also the question of whether geranium flowers can be grown from seeds. This is because the plant has been grown for years using cuttings. Propagation is identified as the most popular way of growing flowers.
However, some gardeners love to introduce a new breed of geranium plants. That is why growing geranium from selected seeds is recommended.
This method introduces a new breed and makes it easy to manage plant growth. The only recommendation is first to sow the seeds indoors. This can work better for later transplanting.